Posted By: Jan Larson McLaughlin August 22, 2022

As of Monday afternoon, one more case of E. coli in Wood County has been linked to the possible outbreak from contaminated romaine lettuce served at Wendy’s restaurants. 

A total of 22 local residents tested positive for E. coli. So far, samples from nine Wood County residents have been identified as the same strain. The Wood County Health Department is still waiting for the results on 10 cases from the Ohio Department of Health. One sample was unable to be typed.

The CDC announced last week that its multi-state E. coli investigation identified Wendy’s restaurants as the source. A specific food has not yet been confirmed as the source of this outbreak, but many sick people reported eating sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy’s restaurants in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania before getting sick. 

Based on this information, Wendy’s has reportedly removed the romaine lettuce being used in sandwiches from restaurants in the region. Wendy’s reportedly uses a different type of romaine lettuce for salads.

Investigators are working to confirm whether romaine lettuce is the source of this outbreak, and whether romaine lettuce used in Wendy’s sandwiches was served or sold at other businesses. Wendy’s is fully cooperating with the investigation, according to the CDC.

Like CDC, Wood County Health Department is not advising that people avoid eating at Wendy’s restaurants or that people stop eating romaine lettuce.

CDC will update its advice if other foods to avoid are identified.

The CDC is currently investigating reports of E. coli cases in Michigan and Ohio. Information on the CDC investigation is linked here: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2022/o157h7-08-22/index.html

Only those E. coli cases from Wood County whose serotype matches the one under investigation by the CDC are included in the CDC’s report. Currently eight cases from Wood County have a serotype that matches those under investigation by the CDC.

Most people with a STEC infection start feeling sick 3 to 4 days after eating or drinking something that contains the bacteria. However, illnesses can start anywhere from 1 to 10 days after exposure. Most people get better within 5 to 7 days. Some infections are very mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening.

If you believe you are or have experienced the severe E. coli symptoms listed above from July 20 to the present, think about where you may have traveled, what you may have eaten and where in the 10 days prior to the start of your symptoms.

Then go to:  https://woodcountyhealth.org/health-promotion-and-preparedness/infectious-disease/ and click on the “take this survey” link in blue.

E. coli are a diverse group of bacteria that normally live in the intestines of humans and animals. Although most strains of these bacteria are harmless, some produce toxins that can make you sick and cause diarrhea. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli(STEC) is one of the strains that can make people sick.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT E. COLI: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/

Interested in advertising here on the sidebar of BG Independent News, or in becoming an annual sponsor? Contact Elizabeth Roberts-Zibbel at elizabeth.lrz@gmail.com or click image below for the Advertise page, also accessible from the Main Menu heading above.

All Content Copyright BG Independent News ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Any use of materials on this website, including reproduction, modification, distribution or republication, without the prior written consent of BGIN, is strictly prohibited.